Chapter 2 - Physical Properties of Matter
Vocabulary Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/140942043/properties-of-matter-flash-cards/
Properties of Matter
Name
Properties of Matter
Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Everything is made of matter. All matter has properties that allow us to describe.
Physical properties are features that we can observe or measure without changing the object. Some physical properties are mass, shape, size, volume, color, texture, magnetism, and conductivity. Each material or object has a group of properties that make it different from others.
Mass
Mass is the amount of matter in a substance. A heavy object has more mass than a light one. You can use a scale or a balance to measure mass. The amount of mass in an object does not change when the pull of gravity changes. Mass is a quantitative physical property of matter.
Shape
There are many different shapes an object could have. It could be round, square, oval, heart-shaped, or triangle-shaped. It could have a shape that is none of these. Its shape could be made up of straight lines, or it could be made up of curved lines. Shape is a qualitative physical property of matter.
Temperature
Temperature is a measure of the hotness or coldness of an object. All matter is made of particles. Temperature is a measure of the how fast or slow these particles are moving. We call that the kinetic energy of an object. It is a quantitative physical property of matter that is expressed in units called degrees.
Size
Objects can also be different sizes. They can be tiny, small, large, or huge. When telling something's size, you can also use words like "larger," "smaller," "largest," or "smallest" to describe sizes of different objects in relationship to one another. This is called an object's relative size. Size is a qualitative physical property of matter when expressed in words. There are about three different sizes of buttons in the picture. Some are small, some are larger, and one button is the largest. Can you find the largest button?
If the size of an object is measured with a ruler, it becomes a quantitative property of matter. When you measure the length, width, or height of an object you are expressing the object’s size with numbers. Examples of quantitative size observations are 14 centimeters long, 8 feet wide, or 95 yards high.
Volume
Volume is the total amount of space that something takes up in all three dimensions. If an object as a regular shape, like a box, you can find its volume by measuring each side and multiplying them together using the formula: Volume = length × width × height. The volume of a regularly-shaped object is expressed in cubic centimeters or cm³.
The volume of a liquid can be measured using a specially marked container, such as a graduated beaker, graduated cylinder, or measuring cup. When measuring volume, be sure you know which units the measuring container is using. For science, we measure the volume of a liquid in milliliters (mL). The volume of an irregularly-shaped solid can also be measured using a graduated container. To measure volume this way you should add water to the container, record the amount of water, then drop in the object that you are measuring. The object will displace, or move, the water up which results in a new water level. Record the new level. Subtract the beginning water level from the ending water level to find the volume of the object. Since 1 mL is equal to 1 cm³, we can express the volume in mL or in cm³. Volume is a quantitative physical property of matter.
Color
Another physical property an object can have is color. For example, a fire engine can be red. The sky sometimes looks blue. Grass is very often green. The gum balls in the picture show how, sometimes, objects are exactly alike except for their colors. Color is a qualitative physical property of matter
Texture
The way something feels to you when you touch it is called texture. Some textures that objects can have are soft, smooth, rough, bumpy, silky, sticky, and chalky. We use our sense of touch to determine an object’s texture. The candies in the picture have different textures. The gum drops are rough. The gum balls are smooth. The licorice might be sticky. Texture is a qualitative physical property of matter.
Hardness
Hardness is another physical property that describes an objects resistance to being scratched. You can compare hardness by rubbing one material against another. For example, a diamond will scratch glass. Talcum powder won't. A diamond is harder than glass. Talcum powder is softer than glass. Chalk leaves marks on the sidewalk because the concrete is harder than the chalk. Hardness is a qualitative physical property of matter. You probably remember using the Moh’s Scale of Hardness to classify rocks and minerals.
Conductivity
How well an object can transfer heat or electricity is another qualitative physical property of matter. An object that transfers, or moves, heat or electricity well is called a conductor. Most metals are excellent conductors of heat. In the diagram the horizontal bar is made of metal. This bar, which is a conductor, is exposed to a heat source. The heat or thermal energy from the burner warms the bar. Then, the heat moves from particle to particle eventually warming the entire bar. What do you think would happen to the temperature of the bar if the burner was left under the end of the bar for a long time?
The diagram to the right shows another example of conductivity. This circuit is completed with a wire made of metal. The electricity is transferred from the battery to the light bulb through the wire. Most metals are excellent conductors of electricity. Water is also a good conductor of electricity, which is why you should never use electricity near water!
Properties of Matter
Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Everything is made of matter. All matter has properties that allow us to describe.
Physical properties are features that we can observe or measure without changing the object. Some physical properties are mass, shape, size, volume, color, texture, magnetism, and conductivity. Each material or object has a group of properties that make it different from others.
Mass
Mass is the amount of matter in a substance. A heavy object has more mass than a light one. You can use a scale or a balance to measure mass. The amount of mass in an object does not change when the pull of gravity changes. Mass is a quantitative physical property of matter.
Shape
There are many different shapes an object could have. It could be round, square, oval, heart-shaped, or triangle-shaped. It could have a shape that is none of these. Its shape could be made up of straight lines, or it could be made up of curved lines. Shape is a qualitative physical property of matter.
Temperature
Temperature is a measure of the hotness or coldness of an object. All matter is made of particles. Temperature is a measure of the how fast or slow these particles are moving. We call that the kinetic energy of an object. It is a quantitative physical property of matter that is expressed in units called degrees.
Size
Objects can also be different sizes. They can be tiny, small, large, or huge. When telling something's size, you can also use words like "larger," "smaller," "largest," or "smallest" to describe sizes of different objects in relationship to one another. This is called an object's relative size. Size is a qualitative physical property of matter when expressed in words. There are about three different sizes of buttons in the picture. Some are small, some are larger, and one button is the largest. Can you find the largest button?
If the size of an object is measured with a ruler, it becomes a quantitative property of matter. When you measure the length, width, or height of an object you are expressing the object’s size with numbers. Examples of quantitative size observations are 14 centimeters long, 8 feet wide, or 95 yards high.
Volume
Volume is the total amount of space that something takes up in all three dimensions. If an object as a regular shape, like a box, you can find its volume by measuring each side and multiplying them together using the formula: Volume = length × width × height. The volume of a regularly-shaped object is expressed in cubic centimeters or cm³.
The volume of a liquid can be measured using a specially marked container, such as a graduated beaker, graduated cylinder, or measuring cup. When measuring volume, be sure you know which units the measuring container is using. For science, we measure the volume of a liquid in milliliters (mL). The volume of an irregularly-shaped solid can also be measured using a graduated container. To measure volume this way you should add water to the container, record the amount of water, then drop in the object that you are measuring. The object will displace, or move, the water up which results in a new water level. Record the new level. Subtract the beginning water level from the ending water level to find the volume of the object. Since 1 mL is equal to 1 cm³, we can express the volume in mL or in cm³. Volume is a quantitative physical property of matter.
Color
Another physical property an object can have is color. For example, a fire engine can be red. The sky sometimes looks blue. Grass is very often green. The gum balls in the picture show how, sometimes, objects are exactly alike except for their colors. Color is a qualitative physical property of matter
Texture
The way something feels to you when you touch it is called texture. Some textures that objects can have are soft, smooth, rough, bumpy, silky, sticky, and chalky. We use our sense of touch to determine an object’s texture. The candies in the picture have different textures. The gum drops are rough. The gum balls are smooth. The licorice might be sticky. Texture is a qualitative physical property of matter.
Hardness
Hardness is another physical property that describes an objects resistance to being scratched. You can compare hardness by rubbing one material against another. For example, a diamond will scratch glass. Talcum powder won't. A diamond is harder than glass. Talcum powder is softer than glass. Chalk leaves marks on the sidewalk because the concrete is harder than the chalk. Hardness is a qualitative physical property of matter. You probably remember using the Moh’s Scale of Hardness to classify rocks and minerals.
Conductivity
How well an object can transfer heat or electricity is another qualitative physical property of matter. An object that transfers, or moves, heat or electricity well is called a conductor. Most metals are excellent conductors of heat. In the diagram the horizontal bar is made of metal. This bar, which is a conductor, is exposed to a heat source. The heat or thermal energy from the burner warms the bar. Then, the heat moves from particle to particle eventually warming the entire bar. What do you think would happen to the temperature of the bar if the burner was left under the end of the bar for a long time?
The diagram to the right shows another example of conductivity. This circuit is completed with a wire made of metal. The electricity is transferred from the battery to the light bulb through the wire. Most metals are excellent conductors of electricity. Water is also a good conductor of electricity, which is why you should never use electricity near water!